The 2019-20 Queensland Budget has highlighted the need for affordable, reliable energy as the state heads towards 50 per cent renewables by 2030, through new funding for energy programs
Queensland Energy Minister, Dr Anthony Lynham, said the government is investing $2 billion to deliver its Affordable Energy Plan which will help queensland families reduce their energy costs and limit power rises for households and small businesses due to inflation over the coming year.
Energy initiatives in the 2019-20 Budget include:
- $192.3 million for the $341 electricity rebate for eligible seniors, pensioners, veterans and low-income families, including Commonwealth Health Care Card holders and asylum seekers
- $247.6 million to continue to remove the cost of the Solar Bonus Scheme from electricity bills for 2019-20
- $2.7 million for rebates of up to $3500 under the Solar for Rentals trial in Bundaberg, Gladstone and Townsville
- $1.4 million to assist targeted regional families in hardship to manage their energy costs through improved energy literacy, taking simple energy efficiency actions and switching to monthly billing
- $14.8 million for the regional Business Energy Savers Program to help farmers realise energy savings through energy audits and transition support to appropriate, new tariffs
- $4.8 million for the solar and battery storage interest free loans program
Dr Lynham said over $1.6 billion would also be invested in poles and wires across Queensland with Powerlink and Energy Queensland supporting more than 5200 jobs.
“We are investing more than $613 million in our power generators CS Energy and Stanwell supporting more than 1200 jobs.
“This investment in our power assets will help support our smooth transition to 50 per cent renewables by 2030 as more and more renewable generation projects come online,” Dr Lynham said.